1 The proverbs (truths obscurely expressed, maxims, and parables) of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

^2 [a]That people may know skillful and godly ^[b]Wisdom and instruction, discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight,

³ Receive instruction in wise dealing and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, righteousness, justice, and integrity,

⁴ That prudence may be given to the simple, and knowledge, discretion, and discernment to the youth—

⁵ The wise also will hear and increase in learning, and the person of understanding will acquire skill and attain to sound counsel [so that he may be able to steer his course rightly]—^(A)

⁶ That people may understand a proverb and a figure of speech or an enigma with its interpretation, and the words of the wise and their dark sayings or riddles.

⁷ The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline.^(B)

2 My son, if you will receive my words and treasure up my commandments within you,

² Making your ear attentive to skillful and godly ^[a]Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding [applying all your powers to the quest for it];

³ Yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,

⁴ If you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures,

⁵ Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of [our omniscient] God.^(A)

⁶ For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

⁷ He hides away sound and godly Wisdom and stores it for the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him); He is a shield to those who walk uprightly and in integrity,

⁸ That He may guard the paths of justice; yes, He preserves the way of His saints.^(B)

⁹ Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and fair dealing [in every area and relation]; yes, you will understand every good path.

¹⁰ For skillful and godly Wisdom shall enter into your heart, and knowledge shall be pleasant to you.

¹¹ Discretion shall watch over you, understanding shall keep you,

¹² To deliver you from the way of evil and the evil men, from men who speak perverse things and are liars,

¹³ Men who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness,

¹⁴ Who rejoice to do evil and delight in the perverseness of evil,

¹⁵ Who are crooked in their ways, wayward and devious in their paths.

¹⁶ [Discretion shall watch over you, understanding shall keep you] to deliver you from the alien woman, from the outsider with her flattering words,^(C)

¹⁷ Who forsakes the husband and guide of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God.

¹⁸ For her house sinks down to death and her paths to the spirits [of the dead].

¹⁹ None who go to her return again, neither do they attain or regain the paths of life.

²⁰ So may you walk in the way of good men, and keep to the paths of the [consistently] righteous (the upright, in right standing with God).

²¹ For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the men of integrity, blameless and complete [in God’s sight], shall remain in it;

²² But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the treacherous shall be rooted out of it.

4 Hear, my sons, the instruction of a father, and pay attention in order to gain and to know intelligent discernment, comprehension, and interpretation [of spiritual matters].

² For I give you good doctrine [what is to be received]; do not forsake my teaching.

³ When I [Solomon] was a son with my father [David], tender and the only son in the sight of my mother [Bathsheba],

⁴ He taught me and said to me, Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments and live.^(A)

⁵ Get skillful and godly Wisdom, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation); do not forget and do not turn back from the words of my mouth.

⁶ Forsake not [Wisdom], and she will keep, defend, and protect you; love her, and she will guard you.

⁷ The beginning of Wisdom is: get Wisdom (skillful and godly Wisdom)! [For skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal thing.] And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation).^(B)

⁸ Prize Wisdom highly and exalt her, and she will exalt and promote you; she will bring you to honor when you embrace her.

⁹ She shall give to your head a wreath of gracefulness; a crown of beauty and glory will she deliver to you.

¹⁰ Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life shall be many.

¹¹ I have taught you in the way of skillful and godly Wisdom [which is comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God]; I have led you in paths of uprightness.

¹² When you walk, your steps shall not be hampered [your path will be clear and open]; and when you run, you shall not stumble.

¹³ Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.

¹⁴ Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

¹⁵ Avoid it, do not go on it; turn from it and pass on.

¹⁶ For they cannot sleep unless they have caused trouble or vexation; their sleep is taken away unless they have caused someone to fall.

¹⁷ For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

¹⁸ But the path of the [uncompromisingly] just and righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines more and more (brighter and clearer) until [it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day [to be prepared].^(C)

¹⁹ The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.^(D)

²⁰ My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings.

²¹ Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart.

²² For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh.

²³ Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.

²⁴ Put away from you false and dishonest speech, and willful and contrary talk put far from you.

²⁵ Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you.

²⁶ Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright.

²⁷ Turn not aside to the right hand or to the left; remove your foot from evil.